Asteroids, sometimes called minor planets, are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago The names are based on the type of material believed to make up most of the surface material Most asteroids can be found orbiting the sun between mars and jupiter within the main asteroid belt.
Asteroid, any of a host of small bodies, about 1,000 km (600 miles) or less in diameter, that orbit the sun primarily between the orbits of mars and jupiter in a nearly flat ring called the asteroid belt There are three general types of asteroids Hundreds of thousands of asteroids are known.
A guide to these fascinating space rocks.
